Roullete is a casino game in which players place bets on which number or grouping of numbers the ball will land on when it is spun around a circular table. The game has long offered glamour, mystery, and excitement to gamblers, and it can also be a lucrative pursuit for those who know how to play.

The game is played with a special wheel and table, both of which are designed to prevent cheating. The wheel has a central notch, and the rim is divided into compartments or ‘canoes’ that alternate between red and black. The ‘zero’ division is marked in green on American tables, while European wheels have no such marking and thus reduce the house edge to a much more favorable 2.7%.

When the dealer spins the wheel, the ball is dropped into one of these compartments and the winning numbers are marked with a marker on the betting table (aka layout). The losing bets are cleared off the table first, and the winners are paid. The process then repeats. It is important to cash out winning chips as quickly as possible and to avoid using them for future bets, as this will only increase the likelihood of losing them all.

There are a variety of betting systems and strategies for roulette, but none can overcome the fact that the odds are against you. The only way to make money playing the game is to correctly guess which number or type of bet will win, and then stick with it. It is also important to be aware of the limitations of a single bet, and to know when it is time to walk away.

There are several roulette variations, but we strongly recommend that new players start with the European version, as this provides a more favorable house edge. Some casinos offer a free trial to allow players to test the waters, but they should not be used as a means of gaining an advantage.